How related are they?
Same subfamily, Julidinae (Julidine wrasses): close cousins
They split at the genus level: the Bird Wrasse belongs to Gomphosus (Bird wrasses), the Banana Wrasse to Thalassoma.
Find the Bird Wrasse on the tree · Find the Banana Wrasse on the tree
Family lines, side by side
Highlighted rows are groups both animals belong to. The marked row is where their lines go separate ways.
| Rank | Bird Wrasse | Banana Wrasse |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia Animals | |
| Phylum | Chordata Chordates | |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata Vertebrates | |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata jawed vertebrates | |
| Parvphylum | Osteichthyes bony fishes | |
| Gigaclass | Actinopterygii ray-finned fishes | |
| Superclass | Actinopteri | |
| Class | Teleostei Teleost fishes | |
| Order | Eupercaria (unplaced) Unplaced eupercarian fishes | |
| Family | Labridae Wrasses | |
| Subfamily | Julidinae Julidine wrasses | |
| Genus split | Gomphosus Bird wrasses | Thalassoma |
| Species | Gomphosus varius Bird Wrasse | Thalassoma lutescens Banana Wrasse |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Bird Wrasse | Banana Wrasse |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fish · Wrasse | Fish · Wrasse |
| Care level | Moderate | Moderate |
| Reef safe | No | No |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Aggressive |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
| Favorite foods | Vitamin-enriched frozen mysis shrimp, Enriched brine shrimp, Krill and chopped shrimp, clam, mussel and squid | Frozen mysis shrimp, Vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, Krill and chopped prawn |
| Max size | 12 in (30 cm) | 12 in (30 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 125 gal | 125 gal |
| Temperature | 72–78 °F | 72–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.020–1.025 | 1.020–1.025 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Lifespan | Not documented; no published longevity data or reliable aquarium records were found. | Not documented: no published longevity figure was found for this species. |
| Breeding | Not achieved | Not achieved |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Least Concern | Least Concern |